Metaphor for power
The second chapter is centered around the idea that both the British and the Americans have a problem with their gunpowder supply. It seems that neither party has enough to last them through the war even though in the beginning the British have more gunpowder than the Americans. It becomes quickly clear that the gunpowder is used here as a metaphor for power and whoever has more of it has a better chance at winning the war.
Burning cities
The British do not hesitate to burn American cities to the ground when they think it becomes necessary to win the war, something the Americans do not risk doing. The burning cities are also used here as a metaphor to show that the British were willing to do anything to win. For them, no sacrifice was too big if that meant a victory. It also made the British soldiers appear much more ruthless and heartless than the American ones.
Just like Messiah
The way King George’s entrance is described is important because it tells the reader how the people felt about their leader. King George’s entrance can be compared to Jesus’s entrance in Jerusalem, being acclaimed and worshiped by many people. In a sense, King George is the Messiah for the British people because they look up to him for protection assurance.
Metaphor for turmoil
Before every decisive battle between the Americans and the British, some kind of natural phenomenon takes place that stops the Americans from advancing and destroying the American army. Thus, the natural phenomenon like the storm that happened before the Battle of New York or the blizzard before the Siege of Boston are used as a metaphor to suggest the internal turmoil the soldiers and their commanders felt before the battle.
Metaphor for the love of people
After the Battle of Boston, Washington is given a gold medal to thank him from his contribution in the war and for his strategically tactics that helped the American army win against the British. The medal is used here in a metaphorical way to suggest the love and admiration the people had for George Washington.
